Rodin

 

Danaïd by Auguste Rodin was created in 1890 and was originally supposed to be a part of a larger piece, Rodin's "The Gates of Hell". The figure is also known as "The Spring" and depicts part of a mythological story, in which the daughters of Dananos, (Also known as Danaïds) were forced to carry jugs of water to fill up a bottomless barrel as punishment for killing their husbands on their wedding night. This piece truly captures the anguish and exhaustion of the woman, showing distinct difference of the smooth texture of skin and the rough texture of the rock on some parts of the sculpture, while the skin and rock seem to meld together on other parts of the sculpture. The sculpture can also been seen as a landscape in itself, the woman's spine the outline of mountains and her hair as a waterfall. It has also been described as an "Overturned vase", with water-like hair spilling out of it. The sculpture is both beautiful, absurd, and leaves you looking back at it again and again for a new interpretation.